staehpj1 

I tend to mostly agree and suspect that at least some of the folks who want flat bars do so because they equate them with a less aggressive riding posture and it doesn't occur to them that any bar can be set up as high or low as they choose. Some probably see a stigma of drop bar as a racing setup. Others among the flat bar ranks probably just plain like their flat bars.

Personally I prefer my bars pretty low. Whether flat or drop, mine are likely to be 3 or 4 inches below the saddle. The notion that I might want something more relaxed on tour doesn't equate for me since my tours tend to be multi week or multi month with long days, so I tend to be about as conditioned to the bike as I am at any time. As I get older I don't know if I will change my preference at some point, but I am in my very late 60's and haven't shown any signs of doing so yet.

indyfabz

These two guys rode across the country with flat bars. One on a Trek hybrid. The other on a full suspension MTB.

tcs

Yep, multiple hand and body positions +1. Still, like Brother Dave said, everybody's got their own kick goin', and I suppose folks like what they like.

The Soma Condor 2 handlebar looks like an interesting 'drop bar alternative for riders that favor flat bars'.

tcs

As did Thomas Stevens, back in 1884!

In 1946, Norma Jean Belloff used what we might call today North Road bars for her double transcontinental, although Schwinn seems to have referred to them during that period as 'Boy Scout bars' or 'Tourist bars'.

Rob_E

I'll second the Troll. Can carry a lot when you need, but still fun and comfortable to ride all day unloaded. Tires up to 3".

But really you might want to narrow down what you're looking for in a "comfortable geometry." I also found my LHT to be pretty comfortable, if slow, loaded or unloaded. And I never had drop bars on it. The "flat handlebars" requirement doesn't narrow anything down because just about any bike can built up with flat bars. The tire width requirement knocks most road bikes out of the running, and might knock some touring bikes out depending on how wide you want to go. I ran 700 x 40 on my LHT for a while. I think I could have gone a little wider. with a different set of fenders, but really even with no fenders it doesn't take anything too much wider. So while saying "at least 38c" can knock some bikes out of the running, adding a max tire width to the equation would go further.

Personally it's been in my mind for a while to get a 700c Straggler frame and build it up with the widest 27.5 wheels that will fit and a flat bar, or a swept back bar. That probably won't happen because I enjoy my Troll enough, and it fits my riding style/needs much better than a pavement-specific bike, but the idea still has some appeal. It's just taken a backseat, for me, to some other projects.

Leebo

My bikepacking rigs use a riser bar with say 20 degrees of sweep, plus bar ends. Great for multiple hand positions. No need for drops on dirt singletrack.

gios8

Alan S: can you advise of the wheel and tire combo of your Troll pictured in post #13 ?

Thanks in advance